Tax Tips for Business Owners

It’s tax time once again.  No business owner wants an audit. Fortunately, only a fraction of small businesses get audited. Keep in mind that the IRS, and your state taxing authorities, have their hands full. And while it may seem like the case, they don’t have the time or resources to pour...

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Avoiding Seller’s Liabilities In Asset Purchase Agreements

You are buying a business and heard through the grapevine that if you do an asset purchase instead of a stock purchase, it will keep you from inheriting any of the liabilities that may have been incurred before sale.  That is a pretty common belief, and generally sound advice.  

Planning for the Spendthrift Beneficiary

You have a family member with a history of making poor financial decisions.  Or perhaps there’s a spouse of that family member whom you have misgivings about that are not yet resolved.  As you make your estate plans, the decision weighs heavily on you.  You don’t want to disinherit this person.  They...

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Ambiguity in Estate Plan Document Can Lead to Litigation

Ambiguity in estate planning documents can lead to disputes, uncertainty, and potentially litigation. Your Trustee or Personal Representative is charged with the duty of disbursing your estate in accordance with your intent.  If that intent is unclear because of murky testamentary language, your wishes may not be followed.  Consider the following recent...

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What is a contract to make a Will?

A contract to make a Will is an estate planning tool that has fallen out of favor with the rise of the use of Trusts.  For good reason.  While a Will Contract is still legally enforceable, most people find the use of other tools more effective.

Will Contracts are...

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Avoiding and Managing Partnership Disputes

Partnerships Are Risky Ventures 

All things being equal, partnerships are the riskiest form of business entity.  Why? First, a partner can be held personally liable for the actions and omissions of his or partners. Second, similar to marriage statistics, the breakup rate for partnerships is exceedingly high.  By some...

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